San Marcos, University of

San Marcos, University of, at Lima, Peru; the first university in South America; founded 1551 by the Spanish king Charles I (Holy Roman Emperor Charles V) and recognized by papal bull in 1571; closed at the time of the establishment of the republic of Peru and reinaugurated in 1861. It has programs in linguistics, literature, and philology; philosophy, psychology, and art; education; medicine; pharmacy and biochemistry; dentistry; veterinary science; nutrition; chemistry and chemical engineering; mathematics and physics; engineering; metallurgy; geology and geography; biology; social science; law and political science; administration; accountancy; and economics. The National School of Librarianship and Information Science is affiliated.